Yesterday I read an issue of Tomahawk, a DC comic that ran from 1950 to 1972. The character first appeared a little earlier, in 1947, and has had a few appearances since the title’s cancellation.

The comic is somewhat unique in that most of the timeline takes place during the American Revolution. Some of the later issues chronicle Tomahawk as an older man, focusing on the woodsman and his son, Hawk. In fact, the covers of issues #131 to 140 have “Son of Tomahawk” scrawled prominently across the top, although the official title is still “Tomahawk”.

I have only read this single issue, #138, and it was a blast! The first and cover story, titled “Christmas”, features Tomahawk, his wife Moon Fawn, their eldest son Hawk, and their youngest son Small Bear. The basics of the plot are a common element in other western tales I’ve read or listened to, namely fringe elements (sometimes Native and more often European settlers or soldiers) attempt to draw the larger population into bloody conflict. In this story, the action occurs on Christmas eve and Christmas day, adding an extra layer of pathos to the outcome.

Bob Kanigher deftly tells the story, while Frank Thorne embellishes it with his distinctive art. It seems Thorne did his own coloring, and the colors are one of the most beautiful aspects of the art. I just love the shades of blues and purples he uses so well throughout the story.

It’s a 14 page story, followed by one of my favorite parts of comic books…the letters page!

After reading the thoughts of comic readers from more than 40 years ago, I moved on to the second story in the comic: “The Burning of Bonnville”. This is a story of Tomahawk in his younger days during the Revolutionary War. I believe it’s a reprint of an original Tomahawk story. There is a traitor in the midst of the deceptively quiet town of Bonnville, and Tomahawk and the citizens must defend the town and themselves from the Redcoats.

Following this story, there is a two-page spread titled “Wild Frontier: America: A Glance at Yesterday”. This seems to be part of a recurring series, with this particular one being called “Jesse James: Death of an Outlaw”. It includes a brief biography of James, illustrated with realistic drawings. It’s a neat little history lesson, the kind I’ve seen before in older comics.

Then there is a story set in the Civil War, titled “Medal of Honor”. This story has its roots in real-world history, telling the story of Julius Langbein, the youngest American soldier to be awarded the Medal of Honor, at the age of 15.

There’s then a two-page piece, “The Runaway Indians”, which is a retelling of a Blackfoot legend. The legend explains why dogs howl at the moon. I really enjoyed this and would like to see more stories of this kind.

Finally, the comic wraps up with “The Frontier Artist”, a story from “The Legends of Daniel Boone”. It’s another fun frontier story, quickly told but well paced. Like the “Burning of Bonnville”, it also involves a treacherous traitor. The sketching skills of an itinerant artist help save the day!

All this in a single comic book issue! I love this kind of comic from this era; they are so fun and really well done, often with multiple art and story styles in one book. I can just imagine being a kid holding this thick comic full of stories, reading and daydreaming.